The recent decision by State-owned oil companies in Kerala to increase fuel prices for the fourth time in ten days has raised alarm among trade and industry stakeholders. This surge in fuel costs is anticipated to lead to higher prices for essential commodities, compounding the challenges faced by sectors such as hospitality and construction. The hospitality sector is already grappling with a significant rise in commercial cooking gas prices, which increased by ₹993 last month. Transporters supplying goods to Ernakulam's vegetable market, primarily sourced from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, are preparing for inevitable price hikes as transport costs rise. While some vendors have long-term agreements that shield them temporarily from these increases, others are already feeling the impact. Concerns are also growing in the poultry sector, where chicken prices, which had recently stabilized at ₹170 per kilogram, may rise again if fuel prices continue to escalate. The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) has noted that the fluctuations in fuel prices have made it challenging to establish long-term supply agreements, with some items seeing price increases of 25% to 50%.